The Safeway Foundation recently hosted an awards ceremony to distribute approximately $90,000 in grants to 25 local charities. The Foundation is funded through the generous contributions of Safeway employees throughout its Eastern Division, which operates 140 stores in Northern Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and Washington, DC. The Foundation distributes more than $200,000 annually with special emphasis on organizations in the areas of hunger relief, education, health and human services and special needs. Among the groups receiving funding was the Community Foundation of the National Capital Region /Food 4 Families , which was awarded $5,000.

"The employees of Safeway are proud to be able to support local organizations like this that touch the lives of our customers," said Gregory Ten Eyck, chairman of Safeway Foundation for the Eastern Division.

He said the decisions on grants are made by a committee comprised of a diverse group of Safeway employees from throughout its local operating area.